You know you’re not supposed to keep up with the Joneses, but there’s a downside to even judging their habits. As personal finance expert Carl Richards explains, when we make assumptions about the way other people save, spend, or earn money, it can negatively affect our own financial decisions.

You might think it’s too late to save a buck or two for those last minute gifts, or maybe that it’s too late to find cash to treat yourself while you’re buying for everyone else. Well, here are some ways to find some extra scratch to make the yuletide that much brighter.

If you use them responsibly, some credit cards offer excellent perks. For example, American Express and Uber recently teamed up to offer two free rides from 11 major airports for the month of December.

Retirement is pretty far away for some of us. And it’s better to set smaller milestones for your savings now than to focus on the big, lump sum amount you’ll need to retire. However, it’s also interesting to look at the numbers, and this early retirement grid shows you how long it will take.

Provided you use them responsibly, credit cards can actually be useful in your financial life. If you’re traveling, for example, you can swipe plastic without worrying about exchanging cash or paying ATM fees. There are, however, a few traits you should look for in a good travel card.

Money is just a tool, so you shouldn’t necessarily feel bad about splurging on a $3 latte. On the other hand, it’s easy to use this as a justification to spend money, and that can undermine your goals.

Often it makes sense to spend money on quality. If you have a cheap pair of boots but they only last a year, you might pay more over time than you would with a more expensive pair that lasts for years. It’s an excellent theory. It doesn’t always work out this way in practice, though.

Web/iOS/Android: Most mortgage calculators will tell you how much your monthly payment will be or even how much total interest you’ll pay each month compared to the principal. This calculator shows you that, but it includes more detailed information on how much you’ll pay over time, too.

It’s nice of your credit card company to give you the option to pay off your balance over time with small, minimum monthly payments. However, while this option does give you flexibility, it’s mostly designed to keep you in debt.

Settling your debt isn’t always a good idea, but like it or not, it’s an option that exists within the lending industry. In general, settling a debt will lower your score, but that’s not always the case—particularly if the debt in question is already late.

There’s no greater money goal than financial independence: the freedom to do whatever you want without money stopping you. However, it’s a long, hard road. To keep your spirits high and stick to your goal, remind yourself what it feels like to be financially independent every now and then.

The GoPro is an awesome action camera, but it’s also super expensive. If you’re willing to forgo the name brand, fancy specs, and extra features, you can find a cheaper alternative that does the job. Outsmart Brands does the research for you and shows more affordable versions of popular consumer products.

You’ve heard the phrase “time is money,” and we often use money to gauge how much time we have. The problem is, time isn’t money. It’s way more valuable than money, and as personal finance site Done By Forty points out, assigning a monetary value to your time can be problematic.

We have just two months to go in our Ultimate Money Challenge. As we near the year’s end, we’re focused on holiday spending. This month, we challenge you to clean out your closets, get rid of some junk, and make some cash in the process.